Autographic register



Feb. 20, 1951 J. T. DAVIDSON ET AL 2,541,989

' AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Original Filed May 21, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN T DA V/D50/V 'a/OHN HKROEMER Feb. 20, 1951 J. T. DAVIDSON ET AL AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 21, 1942 INVENTOR 3 JOHN TDAV/DSON JOHN H. KR VOEMER J. T. DAVIDSON ET AL Feb. 20, 1951 I AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 21, 1942 I Vlllazzvvvv l ll INVENTOR s uomv TDA v/pso/v B Y JOHN H K/POEMER 3m MW Patented Feb. 20, 1951 3,541,989 AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER,

John 1- a dson and John H, Kme r Daytpn,

O e! a si n? to Th eei =i 5 $i mpany, Dayton, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Original application May 21, 1942, Serial No. 443,944. Divided and this application March 5, 19.48, Serial No. 13,316

12 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to manifolding, and more particularlyto an autographic register of the portable type employing continuous series connected detachable form stationery.

The registering and strip feeding mechanism herein disclosed is preferably, but not necessarily, enclosed in a housing or cabinet of molded plastic or pulp material. The cabinet, of whatever material used, has therein a compartment for detached record sheets provided with a closure and pressure operating means therefor. The strip feeding or ejecting means illustrated is of the pin wheel type, but obviously frictional or other feeding means may be substituted thfiIQ-fqr.

The strip feeding devices may be .of the positive traveling pin type, conventional friction rollers, or of other form, the former being herein shown and described. The feeding devices are actuated to advance the record strips one form length at each operation by a pull stroke or sliding actuator, the initial movement of which serves to release the normally locked strip feeding devices and to temporarily raise during the strip feeding period a clamp bar and tear-off knife which is automatically returned into clamping engagement with the strips, at the .end of the strip feeding movement, preparatory to the succeeding operation.

The primary object of the invention is to im-' prove the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of autographic registers, whereby they may not only beeconomically constructed, but will be more efiicient in use, automatic in operation, uniform in action, have but few moving parts, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable register of light weight and compact form, convenient shape and well balanced construction.

A further object is to provide-in such a register a storage compartment for receiving detached record sheets. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an easily operable closure means for the storage compartment.

A further object of the invention is to provide easily accessible operating means for the storage compartment closure member.

A further objectof the invention is toprovide an interrelated association between the register unit within the cabinet and the cabinet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure in which the actuatin mechanism for the storage compartment closure offers no interference or obstruction to the opening of the cabinet or removal of the register unit therefrom. i

A further object of the invention is to provide an autographic register having the advantageous structural features and the inherent meritorious characteristics and mode of operation herein described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a perspective view of an assembled autographic register embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 i a reverse perspective view thereof showing the cabinet storage compartment open and receiving a detached record sheet.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled register with the lidof the cabinet raised to expose the enclosed unit.

Fig. .4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 :is a perspective view of the register unit removed from the cabinet.

Fig. (i -is a detail sectional view illustrating the depressible storage compartment door'operator.

Fig. '7 1s a detail View of theoperating mechanism for the storage" compartment door.

'Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The autographic register illustrated in the drawing comprises a complete operating unit which is normally enclosed :i-n and bodily removable from the cabinet or housing". The latter is of ornamental design, the shape and appearanceof whichmay be widely varied Without interfering with theenclosed operating unit. While illustrated and described as a portable register,

thesame or analogous construction'may be em- .bodied ,inastationary counter ordesk degister.

tic or pulp material, .butmay .be' stamped from sheet metal. ..The .operating .unit .is mounted in elevated relation within the lower section I to afford therebeneath a storage compartment 4, to which access is had through a flap door 5 in the front end of the cabinet. The upper or lid section has therein an opening 6 which overlies the top or writing tablet of the operating unit through which indicia may be inscribed on the record material strips disposed upon the writing tablet. The forward portion of the opening 6 is enlarged at i to afford an exit opening for-the inscribed forms and to accommodate a clamp bar and tear-off knife therefor. At the rear end of the cabinet a spring latch 8 accessible from the under side thereof releasably locks the cabinet sections l and 2 in closed relation.

The operating unit comprises a box-like body,. having a bottom iii, vertical side walls H, and a flat top l2 which serves as a writing tablet. The unit is open at its opposite ends. The rear extremity of the bottom 10 is formed with an upturned flange I3. At its forward end the unit is provided with strip feeding and ejecting devices.

For illustrative purposes, but without intent to unduly limit the invention thereto, the feeding means illustrated comprises a pair of revoluble pin wheels Hi mounted on a transverse shaft l5, which is journaled in the side walls ll of the unit. The peripheries of the pin wheels [4 project through slots IS in the forward end of the writing tablet l2 into feeding engagement with marginally punched holes in the record strips. A packet H of zigzag folded superposed continuous record strips is placed in the supply compartment within the unit and the strips are fed therefrom through the rearopen end of the unit and thence over the top of the writing tablet l2 to the projecting pins of the pin wheels M which extend through the slots 6 at the front of the writing tablet. Overlying the Writing tablet are a plurality of strips of transfer or record material !8 supplied from a roll mounted in the brackets 19 and 29 on the side of the unit, and transversely interleaved between the portions of the superposed record strips H disposed over the writing tablet.

At the side of the unit opposite the transfer material supply roll, the extended ends of the transfer material are held by a clamp bar 24, upon release of which the used areas of the transfer material may be withdrawn to present fresh areas in manifolding position, and the exhausted portions thereof are torn off. At the rear end of the writing tablet the record strips H are directed between spaced guide bars 2| of a swinging rack22, pivoted to the sides H of the unit. The guide bars 2| carry short fabric shields 23 which overlap the margins of the interleaved transfer strips to prevent interference and mutilation by the relatively moving record strips.

For driving the pin wheels I4 or other strip feeding and ejecting devices through a prescribed range necessary to advance the record strips I1 one form length at each operation, there is journaled in a side wall II a gear drive unit interconnecting the pin wheel shaft l5 and a grooved pulley 28, about which is disposed a bight of a bead chain 29. Obviously, other forms of actuating chain or a cord may be substituted. The pulley is coupled with the shaft l5 for one way rotation of the latter by a pawl and ratchet connection. One end of the actuator chain is attached to an end of a retractile spring 30, the opposite end of which is anchored at 3| to the side of the unit. The free end of the actuator chain is attached to a side button or handle 32 which projects beyond the cabinet and is mounted for to and fro sliding motion in a slotted guide track 33 secured in spaced relation to the side of the register unit. The operator slide 32 is provided with two spaced stud 35 which ride in the guide slot, one of which is depressed into a notch at the forward limit of its range of travel to prevent accidental displacement of the slide 32. The retractive influence of the chain is exerted upon the slide sufficiently above the level of the guide slot and in a downwardly inclined relation to urge the forward track engaging stud c5 of the slide into the notch as the slide is returned after each operation.

The manual retraction of the slide handle 32 retracts the bead chain 29 against the tension of the spring 3i! and by drawing the chain about the grooved pulley 28, the pin wheel shaft l5 and pin wheels 54 are actuated through one complete rotation.

Pivoted at 36 to the side of the unit is an oscillatory lever 3'1, the rear end of which is beveled and overlies the foremost stud 35 of the slide handle when the latter is in its normal or home position. The notch at the forward end of the guide 33 is sufficiently abrupt to lock the slide in its retracted position, and to necessitate an initial rocking motion by which the stud is lifted from the notch preparatory to retraction of the slide handle. Such locking engagement prevents accidental movement of the handles in feed devices.

The necessary unlocking rocking motion of the slide handle lifts the lever 3'! which through interconnecting linkage, including shaft 36 and levers 4I-4l, lifts a duofunctional clamp bar and tear-off knife 42 which normally presses downwardly under influence of a spring 53 upon the forward end of the record strips [1 while they are being inscribed, securely holding the strips against relative shifting motion. The bar G2 is notched for passage of the feeding pins of the pin wheels i4 and retains the strips [1 in feeding engagement therewith.

The initial pull upon the bead chain 29 incident tothe unlocking operation of the slide handle imparts a rotary feeding motion through the grooved pulley 28 to the shaft 15. Simultaneously with the initiation of the feeding operation the cut-off bar 42 is elevated and retained in elevated position through continued actuation of the pulley 28. Completion of the feeding cycle ocours as the slide handle reaches the limit of its pull stroke, which movement ejects the inscribed portion of the strip and advances a succeeding form length into writing position. The grooved pulley 28 rotates idly in the reverse direction as the slide 32 is returned to its normal position under influence of the spring 39.

At the end of the feeding operation the elevated clamp bar and tear-off blade 42 are released and drop onto the advanced portion of the record strips under influence of the spring 43 and hold the strips under pressure until the next feeding operation. The advanced inscribed portions of the strips beyond the clamp bar 42 are then torn off against the said bar, which also serves as a tear-off knife. The feeding mechanism is more fully described in and comprises the subject matter of our copending application Serial No. 443,944, filed May 21, 1942, now matured into Letters Patent No. 2,457,807, issued January 4,

5; 1949, the resent application being-adivisicn thereof. Full benefit of the filing dated the parent application is claimed herein, the present subject matter being fully shown and described therein.

One or more of the detached inscribedrecord sheets may be stored within-the compartment 4. The flap door 5 of the storage compartment may be controlled by a push button, lever, or other devices, but in the .present instance a limited de- I pressible section .53 of the cabinet lid .2 is utilized for this purpose. The door operator section 53 is pivoted to a bracket 54, as shown in Fig. 6, and overhangs the outturned end of one arm 55 f a bell crank lever pivoted at 56 to the side'of the frame I l. The other arm 51 of thel lever engages in a bifurcated plate 58 secured to the fiap'door 5.

Although the flap door and the depressible control section 53 for actuating the door '5 are both in the cabinet proper while the .motion transmitting lever 55-51 is pivotallysecured to and becomes a part of the register mechanism frame, the register frame is nevertheless freely removable from the cabinet. The lever arm 51 is slldingly engaged within the furcations of the plate 58 secured .to the door 5 and may be easily removed therefrom by tilting the frame relative 'to thecabinet. There is no positive interconnection between the control section 53 and the lever arm 55, thereby wpermittingopening swinging motion of the cabinet cover portion 2, or removal of the register mechanism therefrom.

A depressible cabinet section 53 is convenient- 1y positioned beneath the operators thumb when grasping the cabinet in the usual manner, as shown in Fig. 2. By squeezing the cabinet upon the area 53, the flap door 5 is opened to receive the detached sheets. A retracting spring 59 serves to close the door .5 and to restore the depressed section 53,

To provide clearance for the moving feeding pins of the pin wheels M, the margin of the opening 1 in the lid 2 is notched at "60 on its innor side. The projection of the lid at opposite sides of the notches 60 below the ends "ofythe passing pins maintains the marginally punched strips in feeding en agement with the pin wheels and restrains them from jumping off during operation,

Wh le the p n Wh l a t I5 and th t ansmission m han sm ay e i urnaled ire tly n th sid s I! f the r g ster un t, they ar pre ra ly iournaled in a molded plastic pa el l e, th sides of which are grooved for removable eneasem in a c rresp n ing sl t or r cess in th m t l s de wa l ll f th re ster unit.-

This construction enables the pin wheels and the motion t ansm tt ng mechan sm to e eas l removed and repl ced as a un t or subeassembly Without dismantl g the register n t.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the char-. acter described possessin the par i lar fea ures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of, modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the pref'erredform of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed inanyof its forms or modifications with- 't'he'leg itimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. autographic register wherein a continuous strip of series connected detachable record forms are progressively advanced past a recording position by an operating unit enclosed within the register and inscribed portions thereof detached from the continuous strip, including a cabinet, a compartment therein to receive detached portions of the strips, a closure for said compartment, a bifurcated actuating member fixedly secured thereto, a bell crank operator therefor .pivotally secured to the operating unit, one arm of which is removably engaged within the furcations of the actuating member a manually operated actuator therefor comprising a depressible portion of the cabinet, engageable with the other arm of the bell crank lever upon depression of the actuator, and a retracting spring against the tension of which the bell crank lever is operable to open the compartmentclosure upon depression of the manually operated actuator.

2. An autographic register wherein continuous record strips are progressively advanced past a recording position and inscribed portions thereof detached, including a cabinet, a compartment therein to receive detached portions of the strips, .a closure for said compartment, a bell crank operator therefor, one arm of which is operatively connected with the closure, and the other arm of which is extended into convenient position for manual depression, and a retracting spring against the tension of which the bell crank lever is operable to open the compartment closure.

3. An autographic register wherein continuous record strips are progressively advanced past a recordin position and inscribed portions thereof detached, including a cabinet, at compartment therein to receive detached portions of the strips, a closure for said compartment, an operator device for the compartment closure entirely concea'led within the cabinet and disconnected therefrom, and a manually movable portion of the cabinet wall in spaced relation with the compartment closure for actuating the closure operator o p n he compartmen e. A cabinet for an autographic register wherein continuous record strips are progres-. sively advanced predetermined distances past a recording position, and succeeding portions ther o det ched therefrom, including a storage ompa tment in the cabin t for detached p rtions of the record strips, a closure for the storage c p r m nt n a depressi le porti n of the cabinet wall normally flush with the adjacent continuing area thereof operatively connected with the storage compartment; closure and with the cabinet, by manual depression of which the closure is opened,

abinet for an autographic register or the like, including a movable closure affording access to the interior of the cabinet,'a depressible cabinet wall section normally flush with the adjaccnt surfaces and forming a continuing por tion thereof, and intermediate operator means disconnected from the cabinet and actuated by depression of the said cabinet wall section to actuate the movable closure.

6. A cabinet for an autographic register or the like, including an outwardly opening flap door,

amass an inwardly swinging section of the cabinet wall, and operator mechanism within the cabinet actuated by the inward swinging section of the cabinet wall to effect outward opening of the flap door.

7. A cabinet for, anautographic register or the like having an operating unit removably secured therein, including an outwardly opening flap door, an inwardly swinging section of the cabinet wall, an operating link within the cabinet interconnecting the inwardly swinging section of the cabinet and the flap door, said operating linkage being secured to the operating unit and removable from the cabinet simultaneously with the removal of the operating unit therefrom, the construction and arrangement being such that inward swinging motion of the cabinet section effects outward opening of the flap door.

8. A cabinet for an autographic register or the like having a unitary strip feeding and register mechanism removably mounted therein for progressively advancing a continuous strip of series connected detachable record forms past a record position, a storage compartment within the cabinet intermediate the register mechanism and the bottom of the cabinet, a movable closure member afiording access to the storage compartment, an actuator member therefor comprising a movable portion of the cabinet normally maintained in continuing flush relationship therewith and operative upon depression thereof to open the storage compartment closure, and motion transmitting means slidingly engageable' with both the actuator and the closure interconnecting said members for unison motion thereof.

9. A cabinet for an autographic register or the like including a tray-like base portion, a cover member pivotally secured thereto, a movable member pivotally secured in the base portion, an actuator member therefor comprising a depressible section in the cover portion, and motion transmitting means supported independently of the cabinet portion and slidingly engageable with the actuator member and the movable base member interconnecting said members forunison motion thereof, the construction and arrangement beingsuch thatthe' cover portion is freely movable ,about its pivotal connection with the base portion.

' =10i-A-cabinetfor an autographioregister or the like, including a base portion, a cover member movably secured thereto, a movable door in the base portion, actuating means therefor in the movable cover member, and motion transmitting means sup-ported independently thereof interconmeeting the actuating means and the door without restricting movement of the cover member relative'to the base portion.

11. An autographic register cabinet having a register mechanism removably mounted therein, a storage compartment within the cabinet, a 010- sure member therefor, and operating means therefor comprising a part of the register mechanis'm operative upon depression of a remote part of the cabinet, to open the closure member there-- by affording access to the storage compartment.

12; 'An autographic register cabinet having a register mechanism removably mounted therein, a compartment within the base of the cabinet, a closure member therefor, a closure control member in the top of the cabinet, and motion transmitting means carried by the register mechanism andfreely engageable with the control member and closure. member for transmission of motion from one member to the other, the construction' and arrangement being such that the register mechanism and associated motion transmitting means may be removed from the cabinet as a unit, the motion transmitting means being disengaged from the control member and closure member by removal of the register mechanism.

OHN T. DAVIDSON. JOHN H. KROEMER. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNI'IED; STATES PA'I'ENTS Number I Name Date 717,717 Rowe Jan. 6, 1903 

